GWR on the Nene Valley Railway
Peterborough Pannier
23 August 2007
"Two or three of us are planning a trip to
Peterborough on Thursday - only a tenner for
over 50s (At last - some tangible benefits for
increasing years...) - Central Trains special
offer - do you fancy a day out? We could have a
ride on the Nene Valley". I'd paid a couple of
brief visits to the Nene Valley Railway - both
some time ago - but never travelled on the
line. "Yes, why not - I could do with a day out without having
to drive".
The special offer was available from Birmingham New Street - it
would cost nearly as much to get from Shropshire to New Street,
but it would still be good value. It was a pleasant run, too, out
through Nuneaton (over the rejuvenated flyover and into the
brand new platform) and Leicester, then via Melton Mowbray,
Oakham and Stamford. We lost a little time due to engineering
works, but still had plenty of time for lunch before heading for
the Nene Valley station and the second round trip of the day,
departing at 1.45pm. In time-honoured tradition, the lunch took
a little longer than intended, and the gentle stroll became a
moderate sprint, but we made it - just.
We had a pleasant run to Wansford, where the
train stops for the best part of 20 minutes before
continuing the short distance to Yarwell Junction,
which is purely a run-round point. I decided I'd
had enough excitement for one day, and stayed at
Wansford - I could then perhaps manage
departure and arrival photos, as well as one or
two records of the other stock, some of which is
on display in the station area.
The Nene Valley is home to a fine fleet of locomotives from
home and abroad - however it would appear that none of the
continental locomotives are operable at present. The NVR
website indicated the availability of four steam locos - B1 1306,
73050, the inevitable "Thomas" and a visitor, pannier 6412,
normally resident on the West Somerset Railway, and it was the
latter that greeted us at the station, at the head of four ex-BR
MkIs. At least it wasn't Thomas... (73050 was sans boiler in the
shed yard, and an LNER tender lurked deep within the shed)
Before long, we were on our way back to Peterborough - time for
one or two more photos, including a little main line activity
perhaps (I have to confess that the narrowboat passed under the
bridge about five minutes before the sprinter passed over it...),
before joing our train for the run back to Birmingham, and our
train back to Shropshire. A good day out - must watch out for
some more of these offers. What a shame they aren't available
to start a little nearer home.
Link:
Nene Valley Railway
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
